Smart Screen is a helpful Windows feature released on Windows 8 and Windows 10 and can be used to block the suspected file or program that you attempt to import from Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer. 

Any time SmartScreen is down or unavailable to an end-user PC, the system can download nothing from official and unofficial platforms. 

However, some Windows users have confirmed running into SmartScreen can’t be reached right now as an error. Users have confirmed the Error occurs while attempting to open Maps, Alarms, Photos, Mail, etc. 

Reasons for ‘Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached’ Error 

After analyzing the problem and examining numerous user reviews, we got a clear idea of which factors might contribute to this problem. Below are the factors that may lead to a ‘Windows Smartscreen can’t be reached’ error. 

• Windows SmartScreen feature is disabled from Windows Defender Security Center 
• A proxy entry causes the error 
• Corrupted Windows account 
• SmartScreen is down due to an MS issue 

This article will provide you with a few checked problem-solving measures if you are actually trying to overcome the same problem. Below are the solutions that you can use to get rid of the Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now as an error. 

Solution 1 – Make sure that SmartScreen is enabled 

The most common reason for Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now an error is that the Windows SmartScreen feature is disabled by yourself or a third-party program from Windows Defender Security Center. 

Here is an easy guide to ensuring that your system has SmartScreen enabled: 

1. Open a RUN command box by pressing Windows Key + R 
2. Type ms-settings: windows defender in the RUN command box and hit Enter  
3. Choose App & browser control from the right menu inside Windows Defender Security Center
4. Make sure that the Check apps and files, SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge, and SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps options are set to Warn
5. Reboot your system after applying changes and see if the issue persists  

Try the following solution if the issue persists.

Solution 2 – Check your Internet Connection 

This error may arise due to the bad Internet or Wi-Fi connection. To function, SmartScreen demands that the computer be linked to the Internet. If the link doesn’t function properly, the ‘Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now’ will occur. 

Solution 3 – Check if the SmartScreen is down for maintenance.

The maintenance of the SmartScreen is yet another potential possibility. Whenever this occurs, the SmartScreen part is unattainable for many users at the same time.  

You can check the Microsoft Answers forum or the Windows Twitter account for information on a scheduled maintenance session. You can also check online to see if SmartScreen has been discussed in any of the recent topics. If SmartScreen is not under maintenance, continue with the solution below. 

Solution 4 – Disable Proxy Server

Several users reported that the problem was resolved when the built-in mechanism disabled a proxy server. That is because the SmartScreen part is interfered with by some proxy servers and becomes unavailable. 

1. Open a RUN command box by pressing Windows Key + R 
2. Type ms-settings:network-proxy in the RUN command box and hit Enter to open the Proxy tab
3. Scroll down to Manual proxy setup in the right menu and turn off the Use a proxy server option
4. Reboot your PC and check if the issue persists 

Solution 5 – Create a New Windows User Account 

Many impacted users reported that the error was resolved after creating a new Windows user account. Although this method is useful in solving the Windows SmartScreen error, you may lose any of the configurations imposed on your user’s account. 

Follow the steps below to create a new user account

1. Open a RUN command box by pressing Windows Key + R 
2. Type ms-settings: other users in the RUN command box and hit Enter to open the Family & other people tab
3. Choose to Add someone else to this PC, then click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information
4. Type the user credentials (email, password, country, and birth date), then hit the Next button again (click on Add a user without a Microsoft account If you want to create a new user local user account)  
5. After creating your new account, click on the Start icon then the account icon to sign out  
6. From the sign-in screen, select a new user account to log in with it 
7. Now check if the issue persists 

The steps end here. Let us know your thoughts on the error and how to fix the method in the comment section below. 

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Raheel Umair

Raheel is a passionate tech blogger writing in the tech industry for the last 8 years; He is working as a senior technical writer at Reviewsed.